Happy Monday!
In the news today and from the weekend…
Grid:
- Inside Climate News reports that wind and solar are helping to prop up the Texas state power grid through record-breaking summer temperatures, but experts say grid constraints are limiting their output.
- E&E News reports that high temperatures and a transitioning electric grid combine for a summer likely to influence future energy policy decisions in Texas and beyond.
- OPB reports that a utility industry report predicts Pacific Northwest electricity demand will increase by nearly 25% in the coming decade, primarily driven by data centers and semiconductor manufacturing.
- WWMT reports that a new report recommends transitioning Michigan’s power grid to smaller, decentralized generation sources to meet expected shifts in demand caused by electrification and electric vehicles.
Mining:
- Bloomberg reports China’s decision last week to impose new controls on the export of gallium and germanium — niche metals used in a variety of high-tech industries — was partly a display of power.
- E&E Daily reports House Republicans this week plan to scrutinize President Joe Biden’s handling of coal leasing on federal land, a controversial issue that’s generated legal brawls and pitted the mining sector against environmental groups.
Permitting:
- E&E Daily reports Congress returns from a two-week recess with a host of unresolved issues, including one big one: permitting reform.
Electric Vehicles:
- Washington Post reports that the Biden administration’s push for electric vehicles is up against union criticism over relatively low-wage jobs and the closure of gasoline-powered car factories.